Northern Ireland held 0-0 by Hungary as O'Neill backs unbeaten start
September 29, 2026 08:01
WHAT HAPPENED
Northern Ireland returned to Windsor Park after 315 days and could not be separated from Hungary in a match where chances were scarce. The draw leaves them joint-top with Ukraine, with four points from their opening two matches in League B.
KEY MOMENTS
- Patrick Kelly struck the crossbar in the first half.
- Isaac Price had an effort saved by Balazs Toth.
- Pierce Charles was largely untroubled in goal, making only one routine save late on from Alex Toth after a loose clearance.
- The game featured a number of bookings by referee Ricardo de Burgos; Ethan Galbraith, Shea Charles, Jamie Donley and Isaac Price were all yellow-carded.
- The threat of Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai was largely nullified and neither side created many clear-cut chances.
O'NEILL'S TAKE
O'Neill described the performance as positive: "We played a very good side, I thought we were more than a match for the opposition." He highlighted another clean sheet for his team but said they "just couldn't find maybe enough to create that clear-cut chance that we'd win the game."
The manager also noted the squad's quick turnaround after a 5,000-mile trip from Georgia for their opening match and said he saw "two tired teams" towards the end. He criticised some players' behaviour on the pitch and certain bookings, saying he was "disappointed with some of the yellow cards" and with visiting players "holding their face and screaming." On one contentious refereeing moment he quipped: "the referee never seems to make the walk for us to the side of the pitch. It never seems to happen for us."
FORM AND CONTEXT
Northern Ireland have now kept eight clean sheets in their last 10 home matches. Their opening Nations League fixtures — away to Georgia and at home to Hungary — have left them in a strong early position in League B.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Northern Ireland's next game is away to Ukraine in Slovakia on Friday.